What is Reconciliation

This is why we look to the original Greek. 

  • There are two Greek words for reconciliation: katallaso and apo-katallaso. These words are related but slightly different. Technically there is a difference between reconciliation (both parties reconciling: apo-katallaso) and conciliation (one party reconciling).
  • If two people are enemies and are separated by some dispute, they need to be reconciled one to another. But if just one of those people takes it upon himself to drop the case and forgive the other, raising the white flag of truce, a conciliation has just occurred.
  • A conciliation is a one-sided peace, done outside the will or knowledge of the second party. It is done by the council of his own will in the secret chambers of his governmental palace.  This is what God did when he “reconciled us”
  • He who has conciliated his brother then sends his ambassador with the white flag of truce to sue for peace, to beg the other to conciliate in return. If he does so, then it is two-sided; it is a reconciliation.
  • In 2 Corinthians 5 we find that God has conciliated the world to Himself. He laid aside his righteous and lawful case which he had against the world and conciliated the world. Then He sent us Christians into the world as His ambassadors to them to beg them to be conciliated to God in return.
  • All who take heed and make peace with God, complete the process, they no longer make God their enemy and are reconciled to Him.
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2 Corinthians 5:18-21.
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [katallasso, “conciliation”], 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling [“conciliating”] the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation [“conciliation”]. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled [“conciliated”] to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
  • God was in Christ reconciling [one way conciling] THE WORLD to Himself, not just Christians.
  • He cancelled the books, by not imputing our trespasses unto us.
  • God is not fighting the world and has conciliated the world.
  • He has now committed to us (the priests), the word of reconciliation.
  • If reconciliation already took place, that is, if everyone return conciliation to God automatically, there would be no need for ambassadors.
  • In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul explains to the Christians that they have been called as ambassadors of Christ to a ministry of conciliation. That is, Christians have been entrusted with a message to give to the world. 
  • It is NOT a word of hellfire and brimstone. It is NOT the bad news of the damned. It is the good news “that God was in Christ conciliating THE WORLD to Himself, not counting their trespasses against THEM.”/
  • Many will respond to God out of fear of hell, but vast numbers will reject God as well. Fear is a good motivator, but love is better.
  • Jesus Christ will not need to always FORCE the nations into submission, for once they come to know Him, He will prove to be “the desire of all nations” (Haggai 2:7, KJV).
  • But Paul showed that full reconciliation WILL be achieved, and in His reality, has been achieved at the Cross.
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Colossians 1:20-22.
20 And through Him to reconcile [apo-katallaso - two way] all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled [apo-katallaso] you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
  • Paul simply says that God’s purpose is to reconcile all things to Himself. That means BOTH parties are to make peace, and throughout the ages it WILL occur.


(Ancil McBarnett,  also credit Dr. Stephen Jones)

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